An explanation of what Vitamin E is, what it does for your skin, and whether it’s right for your personal skincare regimen

Of the many skin ingredients out there, Vitamin E is one of the most common. It occurs naturally in our body, assisting with everything from skin elasticity to moisture retention, but if you look closely at the products you currently use in your skincare routine, you’ll probably find that it’s included in the ingredient lists of everything from lotions and eye creams to serums, toners and everything in between. 

At AVYA we use high quality, ancient Ayurvedic botanicals that contain high levels of components that nourish the skin to balance medical-grade actives. We incorporate Vitamin E and botanicals containing high levels of it in our products like our Eye Bright Cream and our Lip Treatment so we want to share a little bit about what this ingredient can do for your skin.

What is Vitamin E?

The term Vitamin E actually refers to a group of oil-soluble, antioxidant compounds. There are 8 different forms, two of which are normally found in skincare products. While other forms of Vitamin E can be ingested, Tocopheral acetate and tocopheral are most commonly found in the products we use topically on our skin.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, which are molecules that contain an unshared electron, making them unstable. Free radicals damage cells, contributing to premature signs of aging like hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. Unshared electrons are highly energetic and react rapidly with oxygen to form something called reactive oxygen species (ROS). The body forms ROS when it converts food to energy. Antioxidants have the potential to protect cells from the damaging effects of ROS by neutralizing the unshared electron. Vitamin E fat-soluble antioxidant that stabilizes the free radical which stops the production of ROS that gets formed when fat undergoes oxidation. 

What are the benefits of including Vitamin E in your skincare routine?

Your body is exposed to free radicals from environmental exposure such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It is inevitable that your skin will be exposed to free radicals that can cause major damage. Luckily, including ingredients rich in antioxidants into your diet and skincare routine can drastically improve your skin’s ability to fight and prevent the damage they cause. 

Vitamin E strengthens skin’s lipid barrier function, improves your skin’s ability to heal, maintains and increases hydration, and has anti-inflammatory properties making it a powerhouse antioxidant and a great ingredient to include in your regimen. 

Is Vitamin E right for your personal daily skincare routine?

As always, pay attention to any signs of sensitivity or allergic reaction when using products that contain high concentrations of any one ingredient. 

Vitamin E is rather mild when used topically on the skin and allergies or other unwanted reactions are considered uncommon so using it daily should not be an issue. However, it is best used on dry skin by those who don’t have issues with skin sensitivity. It is known to gently and effectively treat inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis and is great for reducing post-breakout inflammation as well. 

Vitamin E is even more effective when paired with Vitamin C which is why we’ve added it to our Anti-Aging Serum with Vitamin C. Since it is a fat or oil-soluble antioxidant, it is best delivered through oils, oil-based serums, and lotions. Recommended usage is once per day and preferably at night. Try AVYA’s Night Moisturizer which contains a powerful blend of antioxidant Vitamins E, C, and A.